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Legal Term Dictionary

Search our free database of thousands of legal terms. The easiest-to-read, most user-friendly guide to legal terms.This dictionary is from the early 20th century and is not to be construed as legal advice.

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CHARTER
n. An instrument emanating from the sovereign power, in the nature of a grant, either to the whole nation, or to a class or portion of the people, or to a colony or dependency, and assuring to them certain rights, liberties, or powers. Such was the "Great Charter" or "Magna More...

n. An instrument emanating from the sovereign power, in the nature of a grant, either to the whole nation, or to a class or portion of the people, or to a colony or dependency, and assuring to them certain rights, liberties, or powers. Such was the "Great Charter" or "Magna Charta," and such also were the charters granted to certain of the English colonies in America. See Story, Const g 161. An act of the legislative department of government creating a corporation, is called the "charter" of the corporation. Merrick v. Van Santvoord, 34 N. Y. 214; Bent v. Under-down, 156 Ind. 516, 60 N. El 307; Morris A E. R. Co. v. Com'rs, 37 N. J. Law, 237. In old English law. The term denoted a deed or other written instrument under seal; a conveyance, covenant, or contract. In old Scotch law. A disposition made by a superior to his vassal, for something to he performed or paid by him. 1 Forb. Inst pt 2, b. 2, c. 1, tit 1. A writing which contains the grant or transmission of the feudal right to the vassal. Ersk. Inst 2, 3, 19. —Charter of pardon. In English law. An instrument under the great seal, by which a pardon is granted to a man for a felony or other offense.—Charter of the forest. See CHARTA DE FOREST A.—Charter rolls. Ancient English records of royal charters, granted between the years 1199 and 1516. Less...
CHARTER-HOUSE
Formerly a convent of Carthusian monks in London; now a college founded and endowed by Thomas Sutton. The governors of the charter-house are a corporation aggregate without a head, president, or superior, all the members being of equal authority. 8 Steph. Comm. (7th Ed.) 14, 97.

Formerly a convent of Carthusian monks in London; now a college founded and endowed by Thomas Sutton. The governors of the charter-house are a corporation aggregate without a head, president, or superior, all the members being of equal authority. 8 Steph. Comm. (7th Ed.) 14, 97. Less...
CHARTER-LAND
Otherwise called "book-land," is property held by deed under certain rents and free services. It in effect differs nothing from the free socage lands, and hence have arisen most of the freehold tenants, who hold of particular manors, and owe suit and service to the same. 2 BL Comm. 90.

Otherwise called "book-land," is property held by deed under certain rents and free services. It in effect differs nothing from the free socage lands, and hence have arisen most of the freehold tenants, who hold of particular manors, and owe suit and service to the same. 2 BL Comm. 90. Less...
CHARTER-PARTY
A contract by which an entire ship, or some principal part thereof, is let to a merchant for the conveyance of goods on a determined voyage to one or more places. The Harvey and Henry, 86 Fed. 656, 30 C. a A. 830; The New York (D. C.) 93 Fed. More...

A contract by which an entire ship, or some principal part thereof, is let to a merchant for the conveyance of goods on a determined voyage to one or more places. The Harvey and Henry, 86 Fed. 656, 30 C. a A. 830; The New York (D. C.) 93 Fed. 497; Vandewater v. The Yankee Blade. 28 Fed. Cas. 980; Spring v. Gray, 6 Pet 151, 8 L. Ed. 352; Fish v. Sullivan, 40 La. Ann. 193, 3 South. 730; Drinkwater v. The Spartan, 7 Fed. Cas. 1085. A contract of affreightment In writing, by which the owner of a ship lets the whole or a part of her to a merchant, for the conveyance of goods on a particular voyage, In consideration of the payment of freight 3 Kent, Comm. 201. A written agreement, not usually under seal, by which a ship-owner lets an entire ship, or a part of it, to a merchant for the conveyance of goods, binding himself to transport them to a particular place for a sum of money which the merchant undertakes to pay as freight for their carriage. Maude A P. Mer. Shipp. 227. The contract by which a ship is let la termed a "charter-party." By it the owner may either let the capacity or burden of the ship, continuing the employment of the owner's master, crew, and equipments, or may surrender the entire ship to the charterer, who then provides them himself. The master or part owner may be a charterer. Civil Code Cal. 11959; Civil Code Dak. § 1127. Less...
CHARTERED SHIP
A ship hired or freighted; a ship which is the subject-matter of a charter-party.

A ship hired or freighted; a ship which is the subject-matter of a charter-party. Less...
CHARTERER
In mercantile law. One who charters (i. e., hires or engages) a vessel for a voyage; a freighter. 2 Steph. Comm. 184; 8 Kent, Comm. 137; Turner v. Cross, 83 Tex. 218, 18 S. W. 578, 15 L. R. A. 262.

In mercantile law. One who charters (i. e., hires or engages) a vessel for a voyage; a freighter. 2 Steph. Comm. 184; 8 Kent, Comm. 137; Turner v. Cross, 83 Tex. 218, 18 S. W. 578, 15 L. R. A. 262. Less...
CHARTIS REDDENDIS
(For returning the charters.) An ancient writ which lay against one who had charters of feoffment intrusted to his keeping and refused to deliver them. Reg. Orig. 159.

(For returning the charters.) An ancient writ which lay against one who had charters of feoffment intrusted to his keeping and refused to deliver them. Reg. Orig. 159. Less...
CHARTOPHYLAX
In old European law. A keeper of records or public instruments ; a chartulary; a registrar. Spelman.

In old European law. A keeper of records or public instruments ; a chartulary; a registrar. Spelman. Less...
CHARUE
In old English law. A plow. Bettes de% charues; beasts of the plow.

In old English law. A plow. Bettes de% charues; beasts of the plow. Less...
CHASE
The liberty or franchise of hunting, one's self, and keeping protected against all other persons, beasts of the chase within a specified district without regard to the ownership of the land. 2 BL Comm. 414-416. A privileged place for the preservation of deer and beasts of the forest, of a More...

The liberty or franchise of hunting, one's self, and keeping protected against all other persons, beasts of the chase within a specified district without regard to the ownership of the land. 2 BL Comm. 414-416. A privileged place for the preservation of deer and beasts of the forest, of a middle nature between a forest and a park. It is commonly less than a forest, and not endowed with so many liberties, as officers, laws, courts; and yet it is of larger compass than a park, having more officers and game than a park. Every forest is a chase, but every chase is not a forest It differs from a park in that it is not inclosed, yet it must have certain metes and bounds, but it may be in other men's grounds, as well as in one's own. Manwood, 49. -Common okase. In old English law. A place where all alike were entitled to hunt wild animals. Less...

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